Understanding & Using the ASAM Criteria
Catherine M. Iacuzzi, Psy.D., LADC, CCS
Description:
This workshop will present a comprehensive overview of the American Society of Addiction Medicine
(ASAM) Criteria: Treatment Criteria for Addictive, Substance-Related, and Co-Occurring Conditions.
Participants will learn about the value of placement criteria in client care generally, as well as the
importance of the ASAM Criteria specifically. In addition, changes to the criteria will be reviewed. The
assessment domains will be discussed in detail and the levels of treatment and withdrawal management
will be reviewed. Participants will also learn how to utilize the ASAM Criteria to make admission
placement, continuing care and discharge decisions. Finally, participants will learn to apply to the ASAM
Criteria through discussions and case studies.
Objectives:


Participants will understand and be able to name the assessment domains.
Participants will be able to describe the levels of treatment (adult and adolescent) and the
levels of withdrawal management.
 Participants will be able to identify the admission criteria for each of the levels of treatment
(adult and adolescent) and the levels of withdrawal management.
 Participants will be able to utilize the ASAM Criteria to make appropriate treatment placement,
continuing care, and discharge decisions.
Training Agenda (6 Hours):
 9:00 – 9:15
 9:15 – 9:45
 9:45 – 10:30
Introduction to ASAM Criteria
Overview of Revisions
Assessment Dimensions
 Experiential Exercise & Discussion
 10:30 – 10:45 Break
 10:45 – 11:15 Withdrawal Management Levels of Care
 11:15 – 12:00 Adult & Adolescent Levels of Treatment
 Experiential Exercise & Discussion
 12:00 – 1:00
Lunch
 1:00 –2:00
Adult & Adolescent Levels of Treatment (con’t)
 Opioid Maintenance Therapy
 Co-occurring Disorder Capability
 Special Populations
 2:00 – 2:30
Assessing Risk & Severity
 Experiential Exercise
 2:30 – 2:45
Break
 2:45 – 3:30
Placement Decisions
 Experiential Exercise
 3:30 – 3:45
Continuing Care & Discharge Criteria
 3:45 – 4:15
Pulling it All Together - Experiential Exercise & Discussion
 4:15 – 4:30
Q & A; Evaluations